Printing press



Aug. 27, 1940.

l.. Q. PREsBY PRINTINGPRESS Filed May 2l, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IW/venan' H Ilsllllllldll l I Illlllr.||||||1IIIIIIIIII Aug. 27, 1940- L. Q. PRl-:sBY

l PRINTING PRESS Filed May 21, 3.958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 27, 1940 PRINTING PRESS Leroy Q. Presby, Melrose, Mass., -assignor to American Stay Company, East Boston, Mass.,` a corporation of Massachusetts y Application May 21, 1938, Serial No. 209,284

18 Claims.

My invention relates to printing presses and is particularly concerned with means for holding the rolls of printing couples in cooperating relation and throwing. them out of such relation.

The invention will be best understood from the following description when .read in the light of the accompanying drawings of an embodiment of the invention. the scope of which latter will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a press constructed according to the invention with parts omitted;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line-22 of. Flg.-1 with parts in elevation;

Fig. 3 shows a detail on an enlarged scale, and corresponds. to a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of'Fig. 2;

Fig.v5 is a section on the line' 5--5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 8*-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the press illustrated has side frames I carrying bearings 3 for the shaft 5 of a printing cylinder 1, which cylinder may be of the rotogravure type. Herein, the cylinder 1 is xed to the shaft 5, and the latter is driven from a drive shaft 9 through a train of gearing, which gearing is indicated in its entirety by the reference character II.

Cooperating with the printing cylinder 1 is an impression cylinder, which as illustrated comprises a body portion I3 carrying an outer layer of flexible material I5 vsuch as rubber. Herein,

the impression cylinder ismounted for rotation y on the relatively stationary shaft I1, longitudinal movement ofthe impression cylinder relative to the shaft being prevented by collars I9 releasably xed to the shaft.

As illustrated, the shaft I1 for the impression cylinder is carried at opposite ends thereof by swinging arms 2 I, the shaft being connected to the free ends of. the'arms, while the opposite ends of the arms are pivoted at 23 to the adjacent .side members I of the frame of the press. As shown. the openings in the ends of the arms 2I which receive the endsaof. the shaft I1 are flared or belled from the center portion of the length of the opening toward the opposite ends of the opening as indicated at 25, which permits the shaft slightly to rock o'r have slight universal movement relative to each arm. As shown, the arms are split as indicated at 21 from the opening which receives the shaft to the adjacent end of the arm. Through the split portion is passed a bolt 29 which when tightened acts to clamp the shaft in the opening of the arm without preventing the slight universal movement just mentioned.` By this construction. -by loosening the set screws 3|, which hold the collars I9 in place, so that the collars may be slid along the shaft, and loosening'the bolts 29the shaft I1 may be readily withdrawn and new impression rolls inserted.

As illustrated, extending across the top of the frame from one frame member I to the other is a rigid girder 33, at one side of which projects a pair of spaced lugs 35 serving as bearings for arock shaft 31, the latter at opposite ends being also journaled as indicated at 39 in the frame members. Mounted on the shaft 31 for sliding and rotation thereon is a block 4I having an opening 43 in which is slidably mounted an elongated sleeve 45. Fixedly carried by the sleeve 45 at each of opposite ends thereof is a head 41. Sidably extending through the sleeve and its heads is an elongated .screw-threaded rod 49 to the lower end of which is fixedly secured a head 5I having a T-slot 53 through which slidably extends a bar 55, the latter at its medial portion being provided at each of opposite sides thereof with longitudinally extending rib 51 giving that portion of the bar a T-shaped cross-section for fitting the T-shaped slot in the head 5I.

At each of opposite sides of the block 4I the rock shaft 31 has .splined thereon a perforated boss 59 integrally formed with one end of. an arm 6I. The shaft for this purpose has a longitudinally extending. key-way 63, Figs. 5 and 6, which receivesa key 65 of length corresponding to the length of the hub 59. As shown, each a5 hub 59 is provided with a set screw 61 acting on the key whereby each hub 59 may be releasably secured to the rock shaft 31. It will be observed from the construction'described that when the set screws 61 are loosened the hubs 59 and the block 4I may be slid along the rock shaft into any desired adjusted position between the bearings 35 for the rock shaft, and that the screwthreaded rod 49 and the head 5I thereof will slide with them.

As illustrated, the head 41 at the lower end of. 45

the sleeve 45 is provided at one-side thereof with a perforated boss 69 through which extends a pin 1I which projects at opposite ends from opposite sides of the head, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. Pivoted to each of these projecting ends of the pin 1I is the lower end of. an arm 13. The lower ends of the two arms 6I and the upper ends of the two arms 13 are plvotally connected by a single pin '15. The arms 6I and 13 form tog.-

gle levers which are just past the dead center with lthe pin 15 resting against the sleeve 45 as a stop, when the parts are in their positions shown by Fig. 3. -Below the lower head 41 in contact therewith is a nut 11 screwthreaded on the rod 49. The toggle, therefore, when the parts are in their positions shown by Fig. 3, acts to press the rod 49 downward and press the impression cylinder into contact with the printing cylinder.

The opening 19 in each arm 2| for receiving the end of the bar 55 preferably is belled in opposite directions similarly to the openings in the arm 2i which receives the ends of the impression cylinder shaft I1, the bar at each end having a reduced cylindrical portion 8| received in the adjacent opening 19. By reason of this construction the impression cylinder may properly align with the printing cylinder to compensate, for example, for a printing cylinder or impression cylinder which is of slightly different diameter at one end than at the other. By adjusting the toggle mechanism lengthwise of the shaft 31 pressure may be applied by the toggle to the bar 55 at selected points longitudinally thereof, and by such adjustment the same pressure may be had at each end of the impression cylinder.

As illustrated, between the Iblock 4i and the upper head 41 of the sleeve 45 is interposed a compression spring 83 which acts to urge the sleeve upwardly relatively to the block 4 I Above the upper head 41 and in contact therewith the rod 49 carries a second nut 85 for transmitting the eiort of the spring to the rod. This spring is preferably of such strength and under such tension that it just counterbalances the weight of the impression cylinder and the parts connected thereto, so that when the toggle is broken, as hereinafter explained, the impression cylinder may be moved upwardly and will remain stationary in any position. However, the' spring, if desired, may be of such strength as to raise the impression cylinder entirely away from the web when the toggle is broken.

As shown, the rock shaft 31 is provided at one end with a handle lever 81 by means of which the rock shaft may be turned to move the pin 15 of the toggle in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, and immediately upon the pin passing over said dead center the pressure of the impression cylinder on the Web passing between that cylinder and the printing cylinder will be relieved. By moving the handle lever in the opposite direction, when the toggle is broken, the pressure on the web will be reestablished.

Where a plurality of printing couples is employed the rock shaft 31 at its end opposite the handle lever 81 may be xed thereto a lever 89 the lower end of which may be connected by a link 9i to similar arms 89 on other rock shafts 31 associated with other printing couples, so that when the handle lever 81 associated with one printing couple is operated to actuate the toggle associated with that printing couple the toggles associated with the other printing couples also will be actuated.

It will be understood that when the toggle is broken the impression cylinder may be moved high enough out of the Way of the printing cylinder to permit the latter to be readily removed from its bearings. When a printing cylinder or impression cylinder of diierent diameter is substituted obviously the rod 49 must be moved up or down. This movement is permitted by screwing the nuts 11 and 85 along the rod in the appropriate direction.

It will be understoodv that Within the scope of the appended claims wide deviations may be made from the form of the invention above described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A printing press having, in combination, a printing cylinder, a cooperating impression cylinder, one of said cylinders having a shaft which is movable toward and away from the other cylinder, a single means for applying pressure to said shaft at points adjacent each end respectively of the cylinder which it carries for urging said cylinder toward the other cylinder, said means having provision for adjustably dividing the pressure exerted thereby between said points of application of said pressure.

2. A printing press having,'in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, one of which cylinders is mounted on spaced bearings movable transversely of the axis of the other cylinder, a part extending longitudinally of said cylinders operatively acting on said bearings for causing pressure to be exerted on said bearings, pressure exerting means operatively acting on said part between said bearings, whichmeans is adjustable longitudinally of said cylinders for applying the pressure exerted thereby to said part at selected points therealong.

3. A printing press having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, a pair of spaced swinging arms carrying one of said cylinders, a member extending between said arms for holding the cylinder carried by said arms in operative relation to the other cylinder, and normally rigid pressure exerting means acting on said member intermediate said arms.

4. A printing press having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, a pair of spaced swinging arms carrying one of said cylinders, a member extending between said arms for holding the cylinder carried by said arms in operative relation to the other cylinder, and pressure exerting means acting on said member intermediate said arms, which pressure exerting means is adjustable relative to said member for applying pressure thereto at selected points along said member.

5. A printing press having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, a pair of spaced swinging arms, means having a universal connection to said arms carrying bearings for one of said cylinders, a member extending between said arms having a movable connection thereto, and pressure exerting means acting on said member for urging said arms to swing transversely of the axes of said cylinders.

6. A printing press having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, a pair of spaced swinging arms, means having a universal connection to said arms carrying bearings for one of said cylinders, a member extending between said arms having a movable connection thereto, and pressure exerting means acting on said member for urging said arms to swing transversely of the axes of said cylinders, which pressure exerting means is adjustable relative to said member for applying pressure thereto at selected points along said member.

'1. A printing press having, in combination, a

cooperating printing cylinder and. impression cylinder, a shaft carrying one of said cylinders, spaced separately mounted means movable transversely of the axis of said cylinders', which means carries said shaft, a universal connection between said shaft and separately mounted means, a part extending from* one of said separately mounted means to the other andl having a universal connection with each, and means acting on said part for holding said cylinders in operative relation.

8. A printing press having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, one'of which has spaced bearings movable toward arid awayv from the axis of the other cylindera part having spaced portions for operatively acting on said bearings for exerting pressure thereon, and a releasable toggle acting on said part between said bearings for exerting. pressure thereon,. which toggle is adjustable along said part for exerting pressure thereon at selected points along said part.

9. A printing press having, in combinationa' cooperatingI printing cylinder and impression cylinder, means for moving one cylinder toward and away from the axis of the other cylinder comprising a rod operatively connected to one of said cylinders, a normally fixed abutment, a spring acting between said abutment and rod, and a releasable toggle between said abutment and rod acting `in opposition to said spring.

10. A printing press having, in combination; a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, bearings for one of said cylinders, means for moving said bearings transversely of the axes of said cylinders comprising a part movable therewith, normally fixed abutment means, al spring acting between said part and abutment means for urging said bearings in one direction, and a releasable toggle acting between said part and abutment means for moving said part in' a direction opposite to that in which it is urged by said spring.

11. A printing press having, in combination,

a cooperating printing cylinder and. impression cylinder, bearings for one of said cylinders, means for moving said bearings transversely of the axes of said cylinders comprising a part movable therewith, abutment means, a spring acting between said part and abutment means for urging said bearings in one direction, a releasable toggle acting between said part andl abutment means for moving said part in a direction opposite to spaced relation, operatively stationary abutmentv means, a spring acting between said stationary .v

abutment means and one of the abutments of saidpair, and a releasable toggle between said abutment means and the other abutment of said ments are carried by said part at opposite sides respectively of said stationary abutment means and are adjustable longitudinally of said part.'

14. A printing press-having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, bearings for one of said cylinders, means for moving said bearings transversely of the axes of said cylinders comprising a movable elongated part, a pair of abutments on said part in xed spaced relation to each other, operatively stationary abutment means, a spring acting between said stationary abutment means and one of the abutments of said pair, and a releasable toggle between said abutment means and the other abutment of said pair.

15. A press according to claim 14 in which said part is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on said operatively stationary abutment means, and said abutments of said pair of abutments are carried by said part at opposite sides respectively of said stationary abutment means and are adjustable longitudinally of said part.

16. A printing lpress having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, pressure and throw-off means for said cylinders comprising an elongated rod operatively connected to one of them, a rocker shaft, Aa

tudinally slidably mounted on said block, an

abutment member on said rod at each side of said block in spaced relation thereto, which members are adjustable along said rod, a spring between said block 'and one .of said members, a second block splined to said rocker shaft, and a releasable toggle strut between said 'second block vand the other abutment member.

17. A printing press having, in combination, a cooperating printing cylinder and impression cylinder, bearings for one of said cylinders,

means for moving said bearings transversely of the axes of said cylinders comprising an elongatedrod, 'a pair of spaced abutments adjustable as a unit along said rod, a rock shaft, Aa 

